The Timber Trade Federation (TTF) and NHBC have welcomed the government’s new housing strategy in the face of UK housebuilding stagnation in the past 12 months.
“We welcome this initiative from the Government as a positive boost for the economy and for the timber sector,” said John White, chief executive of the TTF.
” Roughly seventy per cent of the timber traded in the UK is utilised in the construction sector, so any boost to house building will be good news for our members and the timber supply chain in the UK.
“We also hope the Government will maintain its pledges toward low-carbon building and recognise the importance and role of timber in helping meet these targets as the most versatile, lowest-carbon building material available.”
NHBC chief executive Imtiaz Farookhi said in light of the NHBC predicting little improvement in overall housing figures for 2011, it was essential to monitor volumes of housebuilding over the short to medium term.
“The government should be prepared to act quickly if the new measures fail to have the desired effect of creating a substantial increase in housing numbers in the UK,” he said.
NHBC revealed that public sector housebuilding had seen a notable decline in recent months. Public sector new home registered in October totalled 1,887, 17% lower than September and 41% down on a year ago (2010: 3,181), while private sector registrations were 5,894 – 14% down on last year.
It said the October falls suggested that the year-to-date trend of consistency with 2010 might not continue.
However, NHBC described the new housing strategy, new contracts under the affordable homes programme and plans for a new infrastructure scheme as welcome and well-timed news for social and affordable housing.
